I've been experimenting with noting practice for a few weeks now. Up until now, I would just pay attention without consciously forming words. Some questions:

Which kind of words do you use? Nouns or gerund verbs (i.e "in-breath" or "breathing in")? Does it matter? I found that short words more useful.

Also, for longer sensations, do you note repeatedly or in a drawn-out fashion? "itch, itch, itch" or "iiiiiiiiiitch"?

When a sensation "overlays" the breath, do you alternate between noting the breath and that sensation? "itching, rising, itching, rising..."? Non-verbally, I could watch both without a sense of alternating, but perhaps there was (very quick) alternation after all.

When a memory or an anticipation arises, verbalizing "memory" or "anticipation" seems to stop it quite abruptly. My previous practice of non-verbal attention allowed me to watch it sputter out.

All in all, noting practice has a very alert, active flavor, and I'll stick with it for now. I tried non-verbal attention again the other day, for comparison, and found that my thoughts would wander far more often. But maybe that was just the state I was in that day.

 out of  found this valuable. Do you find this valuable?    

• Post reply

Show Last Reply

Hi Everybody,

During walking meditation today, walking fairly briskly along the river (no turning around after a few steps) and noting "left" - "right" while paying attention to the feet touching the ground, I hit a state where I experienced my field of vision swaying, very similar to being slightly drunk, but without the light-headedness or vertigo.

It was as if the "optical stabilizer" which usually corrects for the swaying vision when walking had shut down. Also, the ground seemed awfully unreal all of a sudden, like a sponge or a layer of fog that would solidify just in time in the spot where I would next set my foot, or somehow rise up to meet my foot. I had no trouble walking, however.

So, was that a (slow) vibration of insight practice, or some really dynamic samatha state? I've hit "sitting on air" and "world revolving around my diaphagm" sensations in sitting samatha meditation, but the quality was quite different when walking today - when I stood still, the ground seemed solid enough, and the swaying stopped, but the effect resumed when I started walking again.

It was the second time I hit this state today, the first time was a few days ago. I tried to note the swaying, but couldn't think of anything but "left - right" which didn't seem useful, so I continued to note my steps instead.

Thanks for any advice,

Cheers,
Florian

1  out of 1 found this valuable. Do you find this valuable? Do you?    

• Post reply

Show Last Reply

Hello everybody,
I think it might be interesting to share some experiences concerning raptures since they can be so out of the normal. To start out I´ll share mine: The only really weird rapture I had so far was that suddenly my body seemed to explode and lose it´s shape. When this wore off I had the strange feeling of being 10 meters tall (with the eyes shut). That was really funny!
So I would love to hear your takes on this,
have a good day,
Martin

1  out of 1 found this valuable. Do you find this valuable? Do you?    

• Post reply

Show Last Reply